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Firefighters and EMS practice training burn

Firefighters watch as a house used for a training burn finally goes up in flames on Saturday. The house was donated to the fire department by Boylston Baptist Church, which plans to develop the land the house was on.

MIKE DIRKS/TIMES-NEWS

Blueridgenow.com

Published: Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 12:31 p.m.

Firefighters and EMS workers gather on a piece of property on Highway 280 and watched as flames engulfed a home. Firemen were getting the rarity of a "training burn" last Saturday.

The house was filled with pallets that represented different types of furniture.

Firefighters entered the house and practiced different things necessary at a live fire, but as more of a training simulation.

The simulation was more for the young and rookie firefighters who haven't had the opportunity for real incidences.

"It gives our firefighters a real life scenario," said Chris Ballinger, assistant chief at Mills River. "It's kind of rare anytime that we get the opportunity to do it."

The departments on hand for the training included the Mills River Fire Department, North Transylvania County Fire Department, the Etowah Fire Department, Little River Fire Department, Lake Toxaway Fire Department and the Henderson County Rescue Squad.

<p>Firefighters and EMS workers gather on a piece of property on Highway 280 and watched as flames engulfed a home. Firemen were getting the rarity of a "training burn" last Saturday.</p><p>The house was filled with pallets that represented different types of furniture.</p><p>Firefighters entered the house and practiced different things necessary at a live fire, but as more of a training simulation.</p><p>The simulation was more for the young and rookie firefighters who haven't had the opportunity for real incidences.</p><p>"It gives our firefighters a real life scenario," said Chris Ballinger, assistant chief at Mills River. "It's kind of rare anytime that we get the opportunity to do it."</p><p>The departments on hand for the training included the Mills River Fire Department, North Transylvania County Fire Department, the Etowah Fire Department, Little River Fire Department, Lake Toxaway Fire Department and the Henderson County Rescue Squad.</p>